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Wood ME, Edwards WH, Jennings-Gaines JE, Gaston M, Van Wick P, Amundson S, Allen SE, Wolfe LL. Clearance of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in Captive Bighorn Sheep ( Ovis canadensis) Following Extended Oral Doxycycline Treatment. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:753-758. [PMID: 37578752 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Respiratory disease is a significant barrier for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) conservation, and a need remains for management options in both captive and free-ranging populations. We treated Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae infection in six bighorn lambs and five bighorn yearlings at two captive research facilities with twice daily oral doxycycline for 8 wk or longer. Doses of 5 mg/kg twice daily mixed in formula for lambs and 10 mg/kg twice daily mixed in moistened pellets for older lambs and yearlings were tolerated well with minimal side effects. All animals in this case report remain Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae free over 2 yr later. Further evaluation is warranted to confirm efficacy of this therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Wood
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, 4330 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Veterinary Services, 1212 S. Adams St., Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
| | - William H Edwards
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Veterinary Services, Wildlife Health Laboratory, 1174 Snowy Range Rd., Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
| | - Jessica E Jennings-Gaines
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Veterinary Services, Wildlife Health Laboratory, 1174 Snowy Range Rd., Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
| | - Mariah Gaston
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Veterinary Services, Thorne-Williams Wildlife Research Center, 2362 WY-34, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201, USA
| | - Peach Van Wick
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Veterinary Services, Thorne-Williams Wildlife Research Center, 2362 WY-34, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201, USA
| | - Sierra Amundson
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, 4330 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
| | - Samantha E Allen
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Veterinary Services, 1212 S. Adams St., Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
| | - Lisa L Wolfe
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Health Program, 4330 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
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Fisk EA, Cassirer EF, Huggler KS, Pessier AP, White LA, Ramsay JD, Goldsmith EW, Drankhan HR, Wolking RM, Manlove KR, Nordeen T, Hogg JT, Taylor KR. ABORTION AND NEONATAL MORTALITY DUE TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN BIGHORN SHEEP ( OVIS CANADENSIS). J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:37-48. [PMID: 36648765 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Low lamb recruitment can be an obstacle to bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) conservation and restoration. Causes of abortion and neonate loss in bighorn sheep, which may affect recruitment, are poorly understood. Toxoplasma gondii is a major cause of abortion and stillbirth in domestic small ruminants worldwide, but no reports exist documenting abortion or neonatal death in bighorn sheep attributable to toxoplasmosis. Between March 2019 and May 2021, eight fetal and neonatal bighorn lamb cadavers from four western US states (Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Washington) were submitted to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for postmortem examination, histologic examination, and ancillary testing to determine the cause of abortion or neonatal death. Necrotizing encephalitis characteristic of toxoplasmosis was identified histologically in six of eight cases, and T. gondii infection was confirmed by PCR in five cases with characteristic lesions. Other lesions attributable to toxoplasmosis were pneumonia (3/5 cases) and myocarditis (2/5 cases). Protozoal cysts were identified histologically within brain, lung, heart, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, or a combination of samples in all five sheep with PCR-confirmed T. gondii infections. Seroprevalence of T. gondii ranged from 40-81% of adult females sampled in the Washington population in October and November 2018-2021, confirming high rates of exposure before detection of Toxoplasma abortions in this study. Of 1,149 bighorn sheep postmortem samples submitted to Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory between January 2000 and May 2021, 21 of which were from fetuses or neonates, a single case of chronic toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in one adult ewe. Recent identification of Toxoplasma abortions in bighorn sheep suggests that toxoplasmosis is an underappreciated cause of reproductive loss. Abortions and neonatal mortalities should be investigated through postmortem and histologic examination, particularly in herds that are chronically small, demographically stagnant, or exhibit reproductive rates lower than expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elis A Fisk
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - E Frances Cassirer
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 3316 16th St., Lewiston, Idaho 83501, USA
| | - Katey S Huggler
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA
| | - Allan P Pessier
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - Laura A White
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - Joshua D Ramsay
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - Elizabeth W Goldsmith
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - Holly R Drankhan
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - Rebecca M Wolking
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
| | - Kezia R Manlove
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5230 Old Main Hill, NR 206, Logan, Utah 84322, USA
| | - Todd Nordeen
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N 33rd St., PO Box 30370, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA
| | - John T Hogg
- Montana Conservation Science Institute Ltd., 5200 Miller Creek Rd., Missoula, Montana 59803, USA
| | - Kyle R Taylor
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, 1940 SE Olympia Ave., Pullman, Washington 99164-7034, USA
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA
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Mathieu A, Thacker C, Teske I, Jenkins E, Wagner B, Macbeth B, Raverty S, Pybus M. FASCIOLOIDES MAGNA IN FREE-RANGING ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP ( OVIS CANADENSIS). J Wildl Dis 2022; 58:592-8. [PMID: 35584403 DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
From February to May 2021, four nonmigratory rams from the Radium-Stoddart bighorn sheep (BHS; Ovis canadensis) herd in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, died from infection with the giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna. Affected animals were emaciated, weak, and lethargic or were found dead. Gross lesions, histopathology, and parasite burdens were consistent with those reported in experimentally infected BHS, domestic sheep, and other aberrant hosts. Although BHS range does not typically overlap with fluke-contaminated aquatic habitats, the change in migratory behavior recently observed in some Radium-Stoddart rams may have exposed the affected animals to F. magna. We describe clinical signs and gross and histopathologic findings of hepatobiliary trematodiasis associated with F. magna in free-ranging BHS. From experimental data and our findings, giant liver fluke is pathogenic and is a threat to the conservation of the Radium-Stoddart BHS herd and other BHS herds in endemic F. magna regions.
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